At a glance
- Founded
- 2006
- Winemaking
- Héctor Villaseñor (since 2013)
- Vineyard
- 123.6 acres (50 ha)
- Grapes
- Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot, Tannat and 4 more
- Style
- San Vicente Syrah · reds for aging · grapes from two valleys
- Visits
- Open to the public
- Hours
- Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. · see hours
The house
The queen of the name is Socorro Amaya, who founded the winery in 2006 with her husband, the architect Roberto Curiel. Today their son, Rubén Curiel, runs it, with vineyards in two Ensenada-area valleys, Guadalupe and San Vicente, that yield very different grapes.
The winery puts its holdings at about 124 acres (50 hectares) on hills and foothills in both valleys. In San Vicente, to the south, it grows Nebbiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Tannat, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Malbec, and Viognier. The winemaker is Héctor Villaseñor, from Chile, who arrived in 2013 and lives in Guadalupe Valley (Valle de Guadalupe).
According to the winery, between 6,000 and 8,000 cases are bottled a year, spread across three lines: VR, Duquesa, and Edición Especial. Among the wines is the San Vicente Syrah, made in the Rhône style with a share of Viognier, which with the 2019 harvest won gold at the 2022 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.
The entrance is at the km 71 marker of Federal Highway 3, between Ensenada and Tecate. The tasting room faces the valley head-on, and around it are the restaurant, terraces, a wine bar, the shop, and an events space. It opens Wednesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with reservations recommended, and one table can hold both the whites of the Duquesa line and the reds of San Vicente.
The wines
Reds from the house's own grapes in two valleys, with San Vicente as the source of its most powerful wines. They are organized in three lines, VR, Duquesa, and Edición Especial, and include whites like the Duquesa Blanc.
Red
Syrah
Syrah, Viognier
Syrah from San Vicente with a share of Viognier, in the Rhône style. The 2019 vintage won gold in Brussels in 2022.
White
Duquesa Blanc
A white from the Duquesa line.
Grapes it works with
- Syrah
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Nebbiolo
- Petit Verdot
- Tannat
- Sangiovese
- Tempranillo
- Malbec
- Viognier
- Vineyard
- about 124 acres (50 hectares) in the San Vicente and Guadalupe valleys, according to the winery
- Production
- between 6,000 and 8,000 cases a year, according to the winery
What to taste
A Syrah with a share of Viognier, in the manner of the Rhône. The 2019 vintage earned the house gold in Brussels in 2022.
Why go
Taste grapes from Guadalupe and San Vicente at the same table, in a tasting room with an open view of the valley, then stay to eat at the restaurant.
Awards
- GoldConcours Mondial de Bruxelles · Syrah 20192022
The visit
Receives visitors. Confirm the hours before you go. Reservations are recommended.
Offers:TastingsRestaurantShopEvents
Tastings and tours
Hours
- MondayClosed
- TuesdayClosed
- Wednesday11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Thursday11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hours are subject to change. Confirm with the winery before your visit.
Amenities
- Restaurant
- Terrace
- Wine shop
- Event hall
Getting there
Carretera Federal 3 (Federal Highway 3), Ensenada to Tecate, km 71 marker
Carretera Ensenada a Tecate km 71, Valle de Guadalupe, Ensenada, B.C. · Get directions ↗ (opens in a new tab)
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